Windber medical fitness center marks its 25th anniversary

Windber medical fitness center marks its 25th anniversary

Article by: Russ O'Reilly, The Tribune-Democrat
Photos by: Thomas Slusser, The Tribune-Democrat
Reprinted with permission. Click here for the original article.

WINDBER, Pa. - A medical fitness center in Windber is among the town's most beneficial amenities, resident Len LaPlaca said.

LaPlaca, 83, ranks HealthStyles Fitness Center along with the Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center and Windber Recreation Park as pillars of the small town.

"I've been a member for more than 20 years," he said. "It's the best-kept secret in Windber."

HealthStyles at 600 Somerset Ave., Windber, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.

The medical fitness center is a department of Chan Soon-Shiong Medical Center at Windber, which also operates the Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center.

The facility's sustainability over nearly three decades is a "testament to the strength of the community," said Tom Anders, director of rehabilitation services. "It started as a small operation and it's exploded to 2,500 members."

LaPlaca, who works as a landscaper, said the opportunity for socialization at the gym is equally important as the exercise.

"Isolation causes dementia," he said. "The bottom line - life is all about relationships."

A study published last year in the journal SSM - Population Health by Harvard University epidemiology professor Tyler VanderWeele examined how changes in loneliness and social isolation were associated with indicators of physical, behavioral and psychosocial-health outcomes.

Social isolation was predictive of mortality risk, according to the study.

HeathStyles members include general gym-goers from communities in Somerset and Cambria counties ages 12 to 90, as well as hospital patients whose gym membership is part of wellness programs through their insurance companies, said Angie Rokita, manager of HealthStyles and the hospital's cardiac rehabilitation program.

Patients of the hospital's pulmonary rehabilitation or occupational therapy "exercise through limitations," she said. Membership is all-inclusive of the fitness center's weights, cardio equipment, yoga classes and pool.

"HealthStyles has a multidisciplinary approach," she said. "It's not just working with folks for exercise. It's also about nutrition, stress management - treating the whole person."

Rokita and all trainers at HealthStyles are exercise physiologists.

"We are the only medical fitness center around town," she said. "People not only come to exercise, they are able to exercise with people with a background and learn to make lifestyle changes."

At the gym Thursday, some members glided on treadmills as if training for a marathon while others worked meticulously to recover from chronic conditions.

Kevin Shaffer, of Richland Township, said he is recovering from a car accident by following an exercise program at HealthStyles.

"Exercise is something that has helped me make progress with my balance that was lost from a vehicle accident," he said. "I have become more fit since joining and look to continue to strengthen my muscles so I can do more activities that require it.

"I continue to come to HealthStyles because the staff is very knowledgeable and helpful. They observe your activity to ensure you are doing the exercises correctly. Another factor that keeps me here is the other members of the gym. They are motivating, friendly and concerned about your well-being."